Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus

There is nothing short about the bill on the Short-billed Dowitcher, a shore-bird breeding in Canada and Alaska and wintering in the tropics of North, Central and South America.

The bill is not necessarily shorter than that of the Long-billed Dowitcher. They are especially difficult to tell apart in winter plumage, shown here, and as juveniles. In summer, the 3 subspecies have combinations of either white underside with barred sides or a red underside with spotted sides, whereas the Long-billed has a red underside with barred sides. The main difference is the sounds.

Photos on this page were taken by Alexandra Makhnina in Florida.